Fox Flight Air Ambulance based in Toronto, Ontario, and specializing in international medical repatriation, recently welcomed a third Lear 40-XR to its fleet of specially configured air ambulances. The new aircraft joins two other Lear 40-XRs that were added to the company’s fleet in April of 2019.
Company president David Fox explains the addition of the third Lear 40-XR completes the company’s planned overhaul of its equipment. “Just over a year ago we made a decision to update our aircraft and move on from our old Lear 35s and Lear 36,” said Fox. “After researching our options, we determined that the best aircraft for us was the Lear 40-XR.”
Fox continues to explains the longer fuselage 40-XR has room for a washroom and extra baggage, which means more comfort and convenience for the patient, their companions and the Fox Flight crew. “Plus, the taller and wider cabin makes it easier for the medical crew to load and unload the patient and provide in-flight care.”
In addition to improved cabin amenities, the company explains flight crews on Fox Flight’s new Lear 40-XRs have benefitted from a roomier cockpit and the up-to-date cockpit display. “Our pilots are really enjoying flying the Lear 40-XR for a lot of reasons,” said Katrina Rankine, Fox Flight’s director of operations and chief pilot. “It’s a big step up from our old fleet and takes our standard of service to the next level.”
In addition to improving the repatriation experience for patients, companions and crews, Fox says the impetus to move to the Lear 40-XR was also driven by the ongoing maintenance demands of older aircraft. “Newer planes are just more reliable, and they are easier to fix if you do have a problem because there are abundant replacement parts available; that means it’s easier for us to keep our planes in the air and available for our clients,” he said.
The latest Fox Flight air ambulance will operate under the tail designation C-FEMT, which stands for “Emergency Medical Transfer.” It joins C-FEMF (Emergency Medical Flight) and C-FEMC (Emergency Medical Care) to round out the fleet.
